BYD Seagull Gets Its First Major Makeover: Bigger Body, New Frunk and a Cleaner Cabin

BYD’s best-selling small electric hatchback, the Seagull — badged Atto 1 in Australia — has just been handed its first significant overhaul, and the changes go well beyond a styling refresh. The updated car has grown substantially, with its body now measuring 4.2 metres against the previous 3.78 metres, pushing it close in size to the larger BYD Dolphin that Australian buyers have known since 2023.

Under the skin, regulatory filings point to a single-motor, front-wheel-drive layout producing 95 kW and a top speed of 150 km/h. The revised powertrain packaging also frees up room for a front luggage compartment, or frunk — the under-bonnet storage space that has become a familiar EV signature but was never part of the original Seagull. The car is listed at 1,255 kg with a gross vehicle mass of 1,650 kg, figures that suggest BYD’s newer drivetrain work should keep efficiency respectable.

The company hasn’t disclosed battery specifications in the latest paperwork, though expectations point to a pack matching or exceeding the 38.8 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) unit used in today’s model. On the design side, the body has been softened into rounder lines compared with the sharper look of the current hatchback. Cameras are fitted for driver assistance functions, but the front end, as shown, omits the LiDAR hardware that appears on other BYD products running the brand’s God’s Eye autonomous driving system. Sixteen-inch black alloy wheels complete the exterior package.

Inside, the biggest talking point is the dashboard: a large central touchscreen anchors the layout, and for the first time in this model there is no instrument cluster screen behind the steering wheel — a minimalist, Tesla-like approach. A 50 W wireless phone charger sits in the middle, alongside a redesigned steering wheel.

Perhaps the most notable part of BYD’s pitch is the value message. The brand has hinted the enhanced Seagull will launch in China at an equivalent starting figure below roughly A$15,000, without a price increase over the current version. In Australia, the Atto 1 has already been a strong performer: pre-orders opened in November last year, pricing landed under$24,000 before on-roads in December, and the model has passed 4,000 sales in 2026. A recent price cut brought the base variant below $20,000 driveaway for a limited stretch, briefly making it the cheapest new car on the market. Australian buyers can choose between an Essentials grade with a 30 kWh battery and about 220 km of WLTP range, or a Premium version with a 43.2 kWh pack rated at 310 km. The new-look Seagull looks set to be a global offering, which would give BYD’s smallest car a stronger shot at outselling the successful Geely EX2 both at home and abroad.